IMMUNE MODULATORY
PROPERTIES
The intestinal immune system represents one of the most important interfaces between the host, diet, microbiota and external antigens. It plays a central role in maintaining immune homeostasis and enabling effective defense against pathogens.
Functional ingredients can significantly influence this immune balance, either directly or indirectly by shaping the composition and metabolic activity of the gut microbiome.
Their effects may extend across both innate and adaptive immunity, modulating key processes such as cytokine production, macrophage polarization, phagocytic activity etc.
CYTOKINE PROFILING
INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
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Cytokines regulate the homeostasis and function of immune cells. Pro-inflammatory cytokines alert the immune system to potential danger, anti-inflammatory cytokines avoid overreaction and allow wound healing. A product may act on the intestinal cells, inducing the local production of immune factors (e.g. cytokines).
Quantify Cytokine secretion
Incubation with the product
Intestinal cells
Monoytes
Differentiation
Differentiation
qRT-PCR
Bioinformatic & customized visualization
The Assay
This assay aims at analysing the effect of product(s) on the innate immune responses, particularly by altering cytokine production.
The co-culture model mimics the interaction between intestinal epithelial cells and subepithelial macrophages, thereby reproducing key aspects of the innate immune response to intestinal compounds.
Test products are applied to the co-culture, and after incubation, cytokine secretion (via ELISA) and gene expression (via qRT-PCR) are quantified to characterize their immunomodulatory effects.
- Physiological conditions
- Inflammatory conditions
- Infection conditions
Test available for
The Assay
This assay aims at analysing the effect of product(s) on the adaptative immune system.
The co-culture model mimics the interaction between intestinal lumen, epithelial cells, and the adaptative immune system. It allows assessment of product effects on T-cell polarization (Th1 vs Th2 vs Treg).
Test products are applied to the co-culture, and after incubation, cytokine secretion (via ELISA) and gene expression (via qRT-PCR) are quantified to characterize their immunomodulatory effects.
Test available for
- Physiological conditions
- Inflammatory conditions
- Infection conditions
CYTOKINE PROFILING
ADAPTATIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM
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The intestinal adaptive immune system provides long-term, antigen-specific protection while maintaining tolerance to beneficial microbes. Its function relies heavily on a balanced cytokine environment that guides T- and B-cell responses. Probiotics and other functional products can beneficially modulate this cytokine network, helping to strengthen mucosal immunity and support overall gut health.
CD4+
helper cells
Incubation with the product
Bioinformatic & customized visualization
qRT-PCR
Quantify Cytokine secretion
Intestinal Cells
Differentiation
Differentiation
MACROPHAGE POLARIZATION
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Macrophage polarization is crucial for intestinal health, as the balance between pro-inflammatory M1 and regulatory M2 phenotypes maintains mucosal stability and prevents chronic inflammation. Probiotics and other functional products can influence this balance by modulating cytokine signals, helping to promote beneficial, anti-inflammatory macrophage responses in the gut.
Quantify Cytokine secretion
Bioinformatic & customized visualization
Incubation with the product
Monocytes
Cytokine quantification and/ or analysis of polarization markers: M1(CXCL10),
M2 (CCL-22)
qRT-PCR
The Assay
Monocytes or a macophage like cell line can be differentiated into macrophages and further polarized toward non-polarized M0, pro-inflammatory M1-like, or anti-inflammatory/tissue-repair-associated M2-like phenotypes. M2 macrophages are anti-inflammatory and predominantly located in the intestinal lamina propria.
Assessing a product’s ability to modulate macrophage polarization provides valuable insight into its immunomodulatory properties.
In this assay, the selected cells are incubated with the test compound. Following incubation, phenotype-specific markers are quantified. Optionally, cytokine secretion profiles can be analyzed.
The Assay
In this assay, monocytes or a macophage like cell line (depending on the availability) is differentiated into macrophages and incubated with the test product prior to exposure to fluorescently labeled E. coli.
Phagocytic activity is quantified by measuring the uptake of labeled bacteria, providing insight into the immune-modulating potential of the tested compound.
MACROPHAGE PHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITY
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Macrophage-mediated phagocytosis is a key mechanism of mucosal immune defense. Distinct macrophage subsets exhibit specific functional profiles: M1 macrophages are highly microbicidal and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas M2 macrophages are primarily involved in immune regulation and tissue repair.
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Probiotics and other functional products can enhance this activity by modulating immune signaling, thereby strengthening frontline gut defenses.
Monocytes
Incubation with the product
M1 Polarization
M2 Polarization
Quantification phagocytic activity
Bioinformatic & customized visualization
Phagocytose test with labelled E-coli bacteria
MICROBIOME MODULATION
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The microbiome is a key regulator of the immune system. It educates immune cells, promoting tolerance to beneficial microbes, modulating inflammatory responses through microbial metabolites and interactions with gut-associated lymphoid tissue and much more.
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As a result, modulation of the gut microbiome represents an important strategy to support overall health, resilience, and disease prevention.
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With VETPLATE, we offer a comprehensive and integrated approach to analyse your product’s effects on the microbiome and its resulting immune modulatory properties.
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In addition to analyzing the impact of your product on microbiome composition, supernatants from microbiome cultures can be further tested for their metabolite profile and their effects on the immune system (pro/anti-inflammatory effects etc.)
